A Bonsai Side Quest

TreeMakers & Montane Bonsai
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Hugh R. Grant of TreeMakers Design and Jarryd Bailey of Montane Bonsai have long been best friends, brought together by a shared passion for bonsai and the wilderness, AKA the bush. With a lens of self-humor, the two reflect on Australian bonsai and what it means to be bonsai professionals… sorta.

  1. Mar 9

    46. Professional Procrastination is Patience

    After another long gap between episodes, Hugh and Jarryd sit down for a much-needed catch-up. They talk about Jarryd’s studio build-out, Hugh’s ongoing garden excavation, recent gallery events and collaborations, and what’s been happening in their bonsai gardens. The conversation wanders through good rocks and stone stacking, DIY projects, fertilising routines, and the parallels between building garden infrastructure and building bonsai. Along the way they share a few garden mistakes, compare notes on pacing and routine, and reflect on the ongoing experience of committing to bonsai. Hugh's Dr Green Thumb -  https://treemakers.com.au/store-all/p/greenspace-liquid-fertiliser  Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 33m

  2. 12/29/2025

    45. The Not Gross Grose Valley

    In this outdoor, in-the-wild recording of A Bonsai Side Quest, Hugh and Jarryd come to you perched from a sandstone outcrop in the Blue Mountains, with beer cans in hand. They discuss the views and the species you can't see (become a Bonsai Side-Quester to view: https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest), being in the wild to seek bonsai inspiration, and embracing one's micro environment locality in their practice.  Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    44 min

  3. 11/13/2025

    44. Hooned it up the Mountains in Copper Foil Hats

    For this episode, Jarryd visits Hugh at Tree Makers Bonsai Studio in the Blue Mountains after completing some BSA events in Sydney. They catch up on their activities of the past month and discuss Jarryd's demo Nothofagus styling (with some bloodshed), collecting trips, the opening of the Tondoon Botanic Gardens Bonsai collection, weather updates, the seasonal challenges, hardscaping maintenance, and wire materials.  Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 12m

  4. 10/10/2025

    43. Where the Hell Have we Been

    After a long hiatus, we return and apologise for our absence!   Winter has kept Hugh and Jarryd busy behind the scenes: learning, refining, and evolving as their practices and businesses grow. Jarryd’s been deep in the work, tending the Niwaki pines at MONA, surviving spider attacks, pencil pine forest cleanups, and travelling for the GAB event in Western Australia. Hugh’s been also immersed in Niwaki pruning, teaching an intensive rock planting course, creating with students, including a long anticipated forest planting, and making a trip to the U.S., including a visit to Mirai and the Oregon Coast.   Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 15m

  5. 07/16/2025

    42. Growing in Our Own Repotting Filth

    In this episode, Hugh and Jarryd share their upcoming repotting season anticipation, preparation work, and woes from mistakes past. They dig into the nitty-gritty of soil substrates, chopsticks, moss, and much more.    Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Are you stocked up on soils for the repotting season? See our premium substrates from Tree Makers - https://treemakers.com.au/store-all/substrates Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 21m

  6. 07/01/2025

    41. Trees That Have Soul

    Hugh is back from a client trip 'across the ditch', making trees in some of New Zealand’s top bonsai garages, and Jarryd is deep in proud dad bonsai mode, with students studying at his garden. In this episode full of catch-ups and predictable detours, the two reflect on a surprising truth: bonsai isn't as patient as it's made out to be; it’s actually quite busy. After several rounds of beer, the conversation finally lands on the key question: what defines a tree as having "soul"? Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 45m

  7. 06/15/2025

    40. Top 20 Natives Finale: the Hottest Specimens of Australia

    In this episode, Jarryd and Hugh finally accomplish the long-awaited finale of the top 20 Australian native species for bonsai. Sample side quests include: life updates, snow, and hot tips on paperbark species bark removal.  Hugh's picks - Banksia Integrifolia, Melaleuca Nodosa Jarryd's picks - Melaleuca Virens, runner up - Sassafras    Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 48m

  8. 05/27/2025

    39. Recap on the AABC: All About Big Convos

    This week on A Bonsai Side-Quest, Hugh and Jarryd battle the sniffles and post-convention burnout as they hunker down at home, firewood chopped and fireplaces burning in the changing season. Still recovering from what they dub “convention COVID,” the duo digs into all things Canberra 2025 AABC—covering standout trees, winning displays, demonstrations, and display conventions. It’s a cosy, congested, and comprehensive recap you won’t want to miss.   2026 AABC Convention - https://aabcconvention2026.square.site/ Love the podcast? You can support us here and 'buy us a coffee' https://buymeacoffee.com/bonsaisidequest Hugh Grant - Tree Makers https://treemakers.com.au/ Jarryd Bailey - Montane Bonsai https://www.montanebonsai.com/  Eve Sczechowski - Yves Media https://www.yvesfilm.com/

    1h 48m
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About

Hugh R. Grant of TreeMakers Design and Jarryd Bailey of Montane Bonsai have long been best friends, brought together by a shared passion for bonsai and the wilderness, AKA the bush. With a lens of self-humor, the two reflect on Australian bonsai and what it means to be bonsai professionals… sorta.

Information

  • Creator
    TreeMakers & Montane Bonsai
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Tree Makers 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    A Bonsai Side Quest